Friday June 7, 2024, an evening discovering new grape varieties that are resistant to disease was organized at the Roman church, by the very young association Cépages d’hier et de devenir. To host this free information session, Jean-Pierre Dermenghem, president, invited Laurent Pignot, a renowned Issoldun wine merchant.
Pascal Pauvrehomme, mayor, recalled that the town of Sainte-Lizaigne has, for several years now, turned towards its wine-growing history. A village which had, in 1855, up to 900 ha of vines, made up of almost 85% of the kneeling grape variety. And it is this knee that the town wanted to revive and know by initiating, in 2019, an annual fair of rare grape varieties which, since last year, has been organized by the association Cépages d’hier et de devenir.
Four varieties created in Colmar
Then Laurent Pignot presented the results of research begun in 1974 by researcher Alain Bouquet to develop grape varieties which resist, in addition to phylloxera, diseases such as downy mildew and powdery mildew which are catastrophic for the vineyards. Thus, participants were able to discover four grape varieties: Artaban, Vidoc, Floréal and Voltis. Four resistant varieties created by INRA in Colmar which require less treatment of the vines and develop an interesting organoleptic profile.
Note that the next Fair of rare grape varieties and autumn flavors of Sainte-Lizaigne will take place on Saturday, October 19.
